DASH FROM GERMAN CAMP.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 10 May 1917, Page 6

DASH FROM GERMAN CAMP.

BRITISH PARTY’S FLIGHT. Rifleman Douglas Charles r.lillner, who enlisted at the age of 17% in the Idth London Regiment (the Rangers) g.ves a dramatic story of his escape from Germany after nearly two years. Captured at the second battle of Ypres, Millner had been transferred to different camps, owing, he b dieved, to his repeated efforts to esc e. On ■one occasion Millner evaded ■: apture for six days, but sinking int; a bog uo to his armpits -he w r as drag ad out by the police and sent back to his -i •, ' ■ ere ho wr.c punlshe 1 by a fcri: i -,bt‘s solitary confinement. On 1H second attempt ho ran into a camp, was fired

at, and re-captured. Last Christmas Millner was transferred to a camp forty-five miles from the frontier. Three days later he was caught cutting the wires surrounding the camp. The prisoners worked at cutting timber, and the return journey from work to camp afforded an opportunity for escape. The fact that the bogs in the neighbourhood were frozen in the great frost facilitated the plan, and Millner with a Welsh Fusilier, and two Canadians slipped away from the main body of returning prisoners, while the guards were in the rear. A dash across fifty yards of open bog-land brought the party of four to the centre of a thick wood. After half an hour’s wandering the fugitives found themselves back at the same point on the outskirts of the wood. Peeping out the prisoners saw the remaining guard - counting the other prisoners, the others having obviously gone in pursuit.

A new start was then made. Th journey to the frontier occupied four nights and three days. On one night four miles of frozen flood waters were crossed, and ffiany times one or other of the party fell through the ice. The sleeves of their shirts were used as wraps for their frost-bitten feet. They tried to obtain drfnk by melting snow in a metal box which they warmed in their hands.

The men were so exhausted when they reached the frontier that they recklessly crossed the triple line of German guards. Once they passed within ton yards of a guard, who. however, retired to his sentry box.